Monday, March 25, 2013

New Release - Divine Temptation by Nikki Elson

This weekend we shared a little of Divine Temptation by Nicki Elson with you and told you about Nicki's giveaway. Today we get to share a little about the author with you. Nicki was nice enough to answer some of my silly questions for us on the day before her release.

Maggie Brock has everything under control. Even her divorce, though painful at the time, only registers as a minor blip in her carefully constructed universe. Her life in Prairie Oaks has once again returned to a smooth, predictable paceâ€¦until an angel shows up in her bedroom.

The angel is just as bewildered as Maggie about why he's been sent to her, but their unsuccessful efforts to gain understanding of the mystery fade to the background as their relationship grows. Soon, Maggie's biggest problem becomes the angel himself, as her feelings for him develop into something less than saintly.

While Maggie struggles to keep her desires pure, a nefarious being lurks in the shadows of Prairie Oaks, watching and waiting for the opportunity to fulfill his ambiguous purpose. Preying on her conflicted emotions, the demon manipulates her at every opportunity, but the one to deliver Maggie directly into his hands is the last person she'd expect.

Omnific: Divine Temptation is your second book with Omnific. Was the process any easier
knowing what to expect or was it just as nerve wracking as the first?

Nicki Elson:The
editing experience was a lot different this time.Three Daves was one of Omnific’s first releases, and getting the
company started plus preparing five novels and an anthology at the same time truly
was a Herculean feat. As a result, the editing timeframe for that book was so
much shorter than it was for Divine
Temptation, so I didn’t really have time to get emotional about it—my
editors and I just dug in and got ‘er done.

Another
difference is that Divine Temptation goes
deeper than big hair and cute boys—into things like faith and divinity
and…other things that I don’t want to say because they might give away
spoilers…and these topics tend to be hot buttons, so there was a lot more to
balance here. But in the end, it all came together in a way that I’m very
pleased with…though I won’t complain if I still manage to touch off a few
buttons here and there.

Omnific:Where do you get the inspiration for your
writing? I am a big “Daves” fan because of the 80s theme!

Nicki Elson:Hehe.
Thanks. I still have the poster you made me. :) Well, the Daves came from my
nostalgia for college days and the idea of a backwards romance. The inspiration
forDivine Temptation isn’t quite as
clear to me. I guess the very beginnings started from reading too many
paranormal young adult novels and being curious about seeing how an experienced,
somewhat jaded woman would react to having a supernatural white knight inserted
into her life. But I have an affinity toward writing realism, so I wanted that
being to be an angel, which I wholeheartedly believe in. And then there were
about a thousand other influences that eventually molded the story into what it
is today.

Omnific: Summer is just around the corner, what book are you looking forward to
spending time by the pool with?

Nicki Elson:I’m finally going to read The Help!It’s one of
those books I just know I’m going to love—everyone who really knows me has told
me I will—and it’s positively shameful that I haven’t gotten to it yet. After
that—The Fellowship of the Rings,
which I’ve never ever read before.

Omnific: Last time, I asked about your favorite romance scene in a book…this
time I want to know what your favorite romantic (chick flick) movie is? And
what your favorite thing about it is?

Nicki Elson:When Harry Met Sally. I love so much about
it, but my favorite, favorite part is Harry’s big speech on New Year’s Eve,
especially the beginning of it:

“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love
that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a
little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts.”

True love is when you don’t just put up with someone’s flaws
and quirks, you love them because they’re part of that person, and Harry just
melts my heart with every word he says to Sally. Don’t we all want to be loved
like that?

Omnific: Finally, the dreaded question…anything on the horizon?

Nicki
Elson:Um, I think we’re in for more
snow here in the Chicagoland area, if that’s what you mean. Oh, it’s not?Welllll, I’ve actually scratched out an
outline and a couple chapters of what I hope will become a new novel. It’s a
contemporary chick-litty romance. And it’s going to be awesome. And of course
totally different than Divine Temptation
(apparently I wasn’t paying much attention in “author branding” class). I’m a
little superstitious about talking in detail about what I’m currently writing,
so I think that’s all I’ll say about that for now. I’ve also got some short
stories I should get off my bum and find a home for. We’ll see.

Thanks so much Nicki! And you know what, at Omnific we are Romance Without Rules so we kinda like our authors who don't quite follow them either. Good luck with Divine Temptation and I can't wait to see what's next for you!

1 comment:

Great interview, ladies. When Harry Met Sally is such a classic. I especially enjoy the realism of their friends' romance. Hooray for reading The Help this summer! One of my favorites. I hope your angels look over you, Nicki, and keep a lot of love and blessings in your life.